Today’s good news could also be bad news, but we’ll concentrate on the upside of the rain that has fallen over the state this weekend.

Yes, it has caused some local flooding and inconvenienced a good number of people.

But Colorado has needed the rain, there’s no doubt about that.

The precipitation was enough for the governor to lift the statewide fire ban over the weekend. It will be hot and dry again before too long, but while the wet weather is here let’s be thankful for the reduced fire threat and relief for farmers and the parched landscape.

Mesa County Commissioner Craig Meis was camping with his children, a childhood friend, and the friend’s children. The group was camping near Buena Vista and planned to go rafting the next day. The grill in question was a $3 “EZ Grill,” presumably intended for cooking.

When confronted by a sheriff’s deputy, Meis reportedly said he held an elected position in Mesa. In a subsequent e-mail to Chaffee County Sheriff Peter Palmer he wrote: “…I’m willing to pay a fine if necessary but will be disappointed if a mandatory court appearance is still enforced given the circumstances and the fact that we were acting responsibly and abiding by the intent of the fire ban law but apparently not the letter of the law,” according to the Sentinel story. Read more…

Vincent Carroll is The Denver Post's editorial page editor. He has been writing commentary on politics and public policy in Colorado since 1982 and was originally with the Rocky Mountain News, where he was also editor of the editorial pages until that newspaper gave up the ghost in 2009.

Guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 150 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address, day and evening phone numbers, and may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.

To reach the Denver Post editorial page by phone: 303-954-1331

Posts by Category

Idea Log Archives

About The Idea Log

The idea log The Denver Post editorial board shares commentary and opinion on issues of interest to Coloradans.